31 Fishing Myths Debunked 
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If you’ve been fishing long enough, you’ve probably heard many facts that are actually not true.
.....Here are 17 of the most common but down-right false fishing myths, as well as the debunking truths:Bass don’t feed in cold water.While bass only eat one-third as much food as they do in warmer weather, they still eat.
All year long, bass cruise around looking for food, and you can even catch bass through the ice.
Fish don’t bite in the rain.Many anglers think that fish don’t bite during the rain. This is not true; you can be very successful fishing in the rain.
Fishing generally slows down during periods of low barometric pressure. Low pressure sometimes, but not always, accompanies a storm.
If it’s raining and the pressure is not low, keep on fishing!
Catfish barbels are dangerous.Catfish barbels are feelers, not stingers. They use them to find food and identify objects.
You need to watch out for the spine on the dorsal fin because it is hard and sharp, but the barbels won’t hurt you.
Bigger lures catch bigger fish.This makes intuitive sense, but everyone has examples of small fish attacking a lure as big as they are, as well as counter-examples of small lures catching big fish.
How many 20-inch trout have been caught on a size 20 midge? Answer: a whole lot.
Be quiet or you’ll scare the fish.Talking or making noise doesn’t disturb fish. Don’t make noise in the water, but talking to your friends won’t make the fish go away.
You might want to be quiet to enjoy the sounds of nature, but that’s another issue entirely.
Fish have five-second memories.It would be great if fish forget being hooked seconds after it happened.
Unfortunately for us anglers, fish remember baits that have hooked them in the past. One study showed that fish remember things for up to five months.
Bass won’t hit topwater lures in winter.Conventional wisdom says that bass hit topwater lures during the warm summer months. In reality, they’re opportunistic feeders.
A topwater minnow lure is a great winter meal for a large bass.
Catfish only eat at night.You don’t have to fish for catfish only at night. These whiskered fish eat at all times of the day.
Catfishing at night can be incredibly productive, but it’s not the only time you can catch them.
Don’t leave fish to find fish.It might not make much sense to leave an area where you’re catching fish, but similar-sized fish usually congregate together.
So, if you’re catching small fish but want a larger catch, move on.
Big fish only live in deep water.Big or small, fish feed where food is present. Sometimes that’s deep water. Sometimes it’s shallow water.
More often than not, the stretch of water you think is too shallow actually has some big fish in it. The largest northern pike, for example, often hunt in shallow weed-beds.
You need a big boat to catch fish.Different boats are better for different conditions. Sometimes a smaller boat can fish an area which a bigger boat can’t get into.
Big boats are great to quickly cover large amounts of water, but you don’t need one to catch fish.
Trophy bass are old bass.This sounds like it would make sense right? But a study showed that most bass over 10 pounds, especially in Florida and other southern states, are only seven- to ten-years-old.
Bass are sight feeders.Bass use their lateral line system to detect water movement and pressure. The lateral line comprises a line of nerves along the body of the fish and “canals” in the fish’s head.
This system helps the bass detect motion and target prey, and it’s one of the reasons that spinnerbaits and other vibrating lures are so effective.
You need to fish deep when ice fishing.You can often catch fish under the ice in less than five feet of water. This is especially true early in the season and in shallower, weedy lakes.
Learning to fly cast is difficult.Anyone can learn to cast a fly rod. A good instructor helps, but many fly fishermen are self-taught.
Don’t let a fear of learning to fly cast dissuade you from picking up this addicting sport. There are also many videos on the internet, library DVDs, and books that can help you out.
A long cast is necessary when fly fishing.A long cast looks nice and is fun to perform, but it doesn’t always catch more fish. A short, accurate cast is often more successful.
Besides, in many smaller trout streams and rivers you don’t need to make a long cast.
Fly fishing is too expensive.You certainly can spend a lot of money on fly-fishing, but you don’t have to. There’s a plethora of lower-priced rod-and-reel combos you can purchase that won’t break the bank.
Many fly rods also come with lifetime warranties, meaning an initial investment can last for years.
Fishing is boring.From an outside perspective, there are certainly times when fishing seems boring. This is when the fish aren’t biting.
Most anglers take this time to appreciate their natural surroundings and don’t find it dull at all.
More often than not, you’ll have a friend around to keep things interesting. Slow fishing is a great opportunity to catch up or make future plans.
You have to be lucky to catch fish. (
Only in Glenn's case)
There’s a common misconception that catching fish is all a matter of chance. You cast out a bait and with any luck, a fish will swim by and eat it.
Those who practice the art of fishing don’t see it this way at all. They know there are fish present in the waters where they cast their line.
Catching a trophy-size fish can take a bit of luck, but anglers still employ special techniques to land even those bigger models.
It takes bigger hooks to catch bigger fish.This one is true, but only partly. You obviously wouldn’t use the same size hook to catch a bluegill that you would to hook a shark.
However, using a large circle hook when tuna fishing can turn the fish away. When fish are line-shy, they’re also hook-shy.
Small hooks will work to catch incredibly large fish—as long as they the hook is made of strong, solid metal. If you go to a thinner shaft, it will bend out under enough force.
Fish can’t see objects on dry land while in the water.Nothing could be further from the truth. There may be certain species that have terrible eyesight, but most fish can see the world outside of water.
Trout see through the surface tension of a flowing river in a cone-like funnel. They can see trees, bushes, bears… and you, if you’re not careful.
You need to have stronger line to catch bigger fish.Here’s another one that’s only partially true because it all depends on the circumstance.
You can catch any fish if you have large enough equipment, but that really takes the sport out of it. Commercial fishermen aren’t looking for long fights with their prey because time is money.
Some game-fish anglers specifically use light line to target the biggest species. They win light line world records in this manner.
A license is required everywhere you fish.As a rule of thumb, you should have your license with you whenever you fish. But, there are certain locations where you don’t need a license to fish.
Many private lakes pay the state separately, then charge you a fee to fish there. They’ll let you know if you also need a license on top of the lake permit.
Piers in California are another example of places you can fish that don’t require a license.
Other states provide this same luxury, but be sure to always check the fish-and-game regulations.
Drags should be set tight to stop fish.Reels don’t have drags to stop fish; they’re meant to slow them. Setting your drag too tight is usually a recipe for disaster.
If a fish can’t take your line out, it will take it sideways. If it’s strong enough, it’ll break your line or gear.
Fish only bite when they’re hungry.Fish obviously bite when they’re hungry, and most of the time this is the reason they do.
However, a sense of danger or sudden motion can also trigger a fish to attack. It’s fight-or-flight in the ocean, another consideration besides hunger.
The most expensive fishing equipment is the best.Generally speaking, fishing gear with a higher price tag is stronger, more durable, and better performing.
All that put together doesn’t automatically mean it’s the best equipment for you. You could spend twice as much on a reel that wouldn’t catch any more fish than the cheaper one.
The equipment that’s best for you is determined by more than just price.
It doesn’t matter what kind of line you use.Most of the time, it does matter what kind of line you use. It might be because your reel calls for a certain kind of line.
Anglers use braided line because it’s much stronger than monofilament.
Monofilament line has stretch while braid does not. Fishermen find situations calling for one over the other, and vice versa.
Fishermen must learn many different knots.As an angler, it helps to have thorough knowledge of knot-tying, but it’s not a make-or-break requirement.
Beginners can start by learning one knot. The Uni knot is world famous among anglers as the one knot that can be put to virtually any use.
Fish bite best in the morning and evening.Another partial fact that’s only true sometimes. For summer lake shore fishing this may be true.
The shallow water often heats up during the day, driving fish out into cooler depths.
Insect hatches on rivers during midday are common and you’ll see the trout explode into action.
Midday action on the ocean and big lakes is also far from unheard of.
If your line goes slack, you lost the fish.This is a mistake beginning fishermen make all the time. They’re rod’s bent and the fish is pulling when suddenly—nothing.
99 percent of inexperienced anglers drop their head in dejection when this happens—but the fish may not be lost.
You see, fish are smart, but they’re also dumb. They’ll switch direction and run right at you, making it seem like they’re off your hook.
They’ll also eat a bait or lure that just had them hooked, if you leave them the chance.
Bananas are bad luck to have when fishing.When the fishing is bad, you might hear someone ask about bananas. If anyone has any, get rid of them now.
Like most sports, fishing has its share of superstitions. The idea of bananas bringing bad luck to fishermen probably dates back to the time of steam-powered ships.
The gases put off by bananas led to some explosions on steam boats, and so their infamy was born.
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Topic: 31 Fishin Myths Debunked (Read 5300 times)
